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Sparticipation expected to be largest in MSU history

August 30, 2016
<p>Packaging senior David Shuler rides his bike during Sparticipation on Sept. 1, 2015, at Cherry Lane Field. Shuler is a member of Michigan State Triathlon.&nbsp;</p>

Packaging senior David Shuler rides his bike during Sparticipation on Sept. 1, 2015, at Cherry Lane Field. Shuler is a member of Michigan State Triathlon. 

Photo by Jack Stephan | The State News

"Big" is how assistant director of student life in the MSU Department of Student Life Fred Watson described Sparticipation this year.

“It’s going to be the largest Sparticipation we’ve ever had,” Watson said.

Sparticipation, the annual campus stop for freshmen and other students to learn about MSU’s various registered student organizations, or RSOs, usually only holds approximately 350 student groups.

This year, 450 RSOs were invited to campus, making it the most widespread Sparticipation in campus history, Watson said.

The Department of Student Life is hosting the event along with the Fall Welcome Spartan Spectacular on Cherry Lane field again this year, after trying it out in the fall 2015.

“We used to have it at Munn field,” Watson said. “But it was small and there were less trees."

Usually, approximately 12,000 students attend the event annually, but this year Watson said he hopes for a little more, thanks to the extra 100 student groups setting up tents in the space.

"At Cherry Lane, there’s a lot more opportunities for shade, which is nice with how hot it usually gets,” Watson said.

Sparticipation has been mapped out with each RSO placed in a specific spot for their presentations. Some have electricity and others do not.

“I just hope that students come out and see what they can get involved in,” Watson said. “There’s so much happening on this campus, which is why we put on this event. We want to see students get involved."

Watson said if the event rains out, the student groups participating will be relocated to the Breslin Center, and the event will have to be downsized.

In August 2014, the event was moved to Breslin Center following weather issues.

“We’re hoping that doesn’t happen,” Watson said.

Sparticipation will kick off today at 5 p.m. on Cherry Lane field.

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